One Thankful Leper

Luke 17:11-19

– Although all 4 Gospels tell about Jesus healing Lepers, this story about the healing of 10 lepers at once is unique to the Gospel of Luke

– This remarkable story of Jesus and the Lepers reminds us that gratitude is the proper response to grace

I. Their Condition

1) Leprosy

• A terrible disease which was very common during Jesus day (Luke 4:27)
• A stark picture of sin and its terrible consequences in our lives
  1. Like an infectious disease the sin nature has passed from one man (Adam) to all men
  2. Sin disfigures and defiles
  3. Sin isolates us from God and others
  4. Sin effectively renders us spiritually ‘dead’ even as we continue to live

Application

We are all born into this world as spiritual ‘lepers’ – note that the condition of leprosy unites Jews and Samaritans into one common band

II. Their Cry

1) They knew that they were helpless

2) They knew that Jesus had power to heal

3) They cry out for divine mercy

Application:

– Christ came into this world to help people who are unable to help themselves

III. Their Cleansing

1) Jesus tests their faith

• The Law says to go to the priest after the healing has taken place, but Jesus instructs them to go to the Temple before the healing has happened!
• Naaman’s faith was tested in a similar way by Elisha (2 Kings 5)

2) All 10 lepers exhibit a measure of faith

3) All 10 lepers are cleansed of their physical disease as a gift of God’s grace

Application:

– God’s grace has been lavished on all people to some degree (called ‘common grace’) so that we all experience the goodness and kindness of God in our lives

IV. The Conclusion

1) 9 Jewish lepers continue on their way to worship in the Jerusalem Temple

• The physical leprosy was gone but the spiritual leprosy remained
• As Jews who knew about the coming Messianic age, these men should have known better

2) 1 Samaritan leper turned back to worship at the true Temple and to express his gratitude

Application:

– Superficial faith values the gifts and forgets about the Giver

– Saving faith worships the Giver and receives His gifts with a heart full of gratitude